Rubber spring shackle and method of producing the same



Oct. 13,1931. v. HUGHES 1,827,234

RUBBER SPRING SHACKLE AND METHOD 0F PRODUGING THE SAME Filed June 18, 1928 I gmc/nld@ patented ct. 13, 1931 UNITED STAT-Es PATENT "OFFICE VICTR/,'BIllTGHES,y 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGlrlhTOIR, TO GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CORPORATION; OF DETROIT, MICIIIGAN, A CORPORATION F V:DELAY-TARE?A RUBBER. SPRING sHAcxLE Arm'lvinmiron or rnonucmm SAME' Application mea June 1s, 192s. serial No. 286,282.

This invention relates tojints and has especial reference to the type of joint-used' on spring shackles of automotive vehicles.

' Thejoint is of a type usingr rubber under compression tomake a noiseless and oilless connection between the chassis framel and the'spring. The jointof the present inven-- tion is an improvement oyer that shown in by prior application Serial Number 219,721,

A `filed September 15, 1927. In the joint shown in the prior application a single cylinder or block ofrubber is placed between the central core cylinder and the outer shell. shell is 'swedged onto the rubber and inner core and in performing this swedging operation the'rubber at the center of the cylinder will not spread or ow with ,the same facility that it does at the ends of the joint or core.

This inequality o f-the spread in the rubber has resulted ina compressionin the rubber at the center which is considerabl in excess ofthe compression at the ends o the 'oint. This inequality in'pressure yhas pro uced some sidesway joint has been applied. v t

In the resent invention this sidesway is eliminatedJ by using two cylinders of rubber placed toward the `end of the core memberand when the swedgi'nfr operation is performed the rubber w1ll iiow or spread from 'both ends of the two rubber cylinderswto give a substantially e ual compression distribu-l tion ofthe rubber etween the core and shell. The low of the two inner ends 'of the cylinrders of rubber will also substantially fill the space at the center. t

In order to allow for the egress ofthe air l Y at the center ofthe joint between the ends each cylinder or rubber.

of the rubber blbclrs a small opening may be provided in either the core Aor shell.

The core member is also provided with a plurality of ribsone of whlch conforms to 'l On'4 the drawings:

Figure'l shows a side view o a portion ofthe chassis frame of an automotive vehicle showing the manner of applying the invenf tion. l

Figure 2 -is a section'on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. E -1 The outer.

inthe vehicle to which tle cured thereto. Integral with the bracket 12 is the eye 14 within which, there is 4positioned one of the joints 16 of they resent lnvention. Extending through the joint is a bolt 18 on the extended ends ofwhich there are mounted the shackle arms 20 and 22. -On the lower ends of the shackle arms there is mounted one end of the spring'24 the upper leaf of which terminates in an eye 26 in which there is positioned a second joint member 16', as is shown in Figure 52. Extending through openings in the ends ofthe vshackle arms 20 and 22and through the core member 32 of .the joint ,16 is a bolt 28 which rigidly holds the parts together.

The joint of the present invention is shown vin Figures 3 and'4`separated from the spring shackle. The jolnt comprises the outer shell member 30 and the inner core member 32 both of which are cylindrical in form. AThe core 32 is preferably provided with two ribs`34 and 36 positioned inwardly on its ends and After the rubber cylinders havev been applied to the core32 the shell 30 is assembled thereover as shown in Figure 3. The assembly is then forced through a die and swedged as is disclosed in my prior application. The

completed yproduct then appears 'as is shown in Figure 4 in which it will be noted that lthe rubber cylindersv 38 and 40 have beenl caused to flow o'r to spread' at their ends and to assume the'position shown in Figure 4. From 95 an examination ofFigures 3 and 4 it will be lapparent that each blockor cylinder 38 or 40 will spread or flow in two directions and will take up substantially all of the space be- 4 tween the core 32 and shell 30, giving a substantially even distribution and compression of the rubber in the joint.

By referring to Figure 3 it will be noted that a space 42 exists between the ends of the blocks 38 and 40 in the original assembledrelation. When the swedging operation takes place the air confined 1n the space 42 will be allowed to escape through an opening 44 and the core 32. lf desired this opening maybe placed in the shell 30.

'lhe ends of the shell 30 are preferably inwardly turned as shown at 46 to aid in assembling the structure and to closer confine the rubber cylinders 38 or 40 at the ends.

Annuler grooves 48 and 50 are Jformed in the shell 30 after the joint has been completed. rllhese grooves are for the reception of rings 52 and 54 which are positioned at opposite sides of the spring eye 2b to hold it at the center of the joint 16.

From the construction as given it will be apparent that a joint has been provided in which therubber is under compression and there is obtained a substantially equal compression at all parts of the joint. With prior join-ts in which but a single block of "rubber has been used it has been found that some sidesway has been caused in the automotive vehicle due to the variation in the compression or" the rubber. ln the present invention this sway is eliminated due to the equality in compression and there is also accomplished a decrease in the cost 'due te the fact that less rubber is required and. the structure is easier assembled.

The invention is also of advantage in the making of rather .long joints such as shown in the drawings. Withrthe prior constructions in which the single block of rubber is used, somediticulty has been experienced in obtaining'a satisfactory joint in which the rubber flowed or spread properly, due to the length of the joint. This objection is not present in the present invention due to the factthat smaller blocks of rubber are used and space is provided between the blocks to permit of a ready flow and an equal compression of the rubber,

I claim:

1. ln a joint, a core member, a plurality of resilient elements placed over said core in spaced relation, and an outer shell over said elements and swedged thereon to cause said elements to iow and. ll substantially all the space between the shell and core.

2. The structure of claim l, said joint having an opening to allow for the escape of vair from between said elements when being i spread or caused to low to fill up the space between the shelland core.

f 3. The structureof claim 1,'said core having a rib conforming to` each element.

' 4. yll`he structure of claim l, said elements comprising cylinders of rubber.` I

s 5. The structureoit claim l, said elements Les?,

@all

comprising rubber cylinders, and said core having a rib for eac cylinder.

6. rllhe structure of claim l, said core befing longer than said shell and said shell havinfv turned in edge portions.

ln a spring shackle joint, a pair of shackle arms, a pair of joints between said arms, one of said joints attached to a sup'- port and the other attached to a spring eye, each of said oints comprising a hollow cylindrical core member for they reception of a bolt, a plurality of ribs on said core, a plurality of cylinder of rubber over said core, one cylinder at each rib, and an outer shell swedged and then swedging said shell to cause said elements to spread in the space between sai core and shell.

l0. 'llhe method of making a joint consisting in placing a plurality of resilient elements in spaced relation on a core, placing a shell f over said spaced elements, and then swedging said shell to cause said elements to spread or flow and lill substantially all of the space therebetween.

l1. rllhe method of. making ajoint consisting in placing a plurality of rubber cylinders over a central member, placing a shell over saidi cylinders, and then swedging said shell to final position to cause said rubber to spreader flow into the space/between said member and shell.

l2..y The method of making a joint consisting in assembling a plurality of rubber elements over a central hollow core, placing a rioJ shell over said elements, and then swedging shell over said cylinder, and then swedging i the shell into place to cause said rubber to How or spread into the space between said shell and core. f

In testimony whereof l afix my signature. i 4 VCTOR HUGHES. 

